Goldsmithery

Andor de S. João evangelisThe goldsmithery collection, at the Regional Museum of Beja, comprises several religious and ordinary life silver pieces, although very few of the latter, they range from the XVI to the XIX century. Of these, are immediately in evidence, two silver andors and their respective pedestals, dated from the first half of the XVIII century, and which are exposed at the Church of the Convent of the Conception. Dedicated to S. João Evangelista and. S. João Baptista, they respectively represent the martyrdom of those apostles, and the baptism of Christ at the river Jordan.

Of the collection, stands out a small white silver writing desk, offered to the city of Beja by King D. Manuel I. it consists of four pieces: an inkpot, an areeiro (sand-box), a pen-holder and its tray where are engraved the royal coat-of-arms of Portugal and Beja, the cross of the Order of Christ and the ringed sphere, symbol of D. Manuel I.

As part of the collection there is a set of nine missals, from the XVII and XVIII centuries, of baroque style, which covers are lined with velvet, decorated with silver elements and decorations, of vegetal and Christian iconographic motives, the eagle and the lamb , which were respectively symbols of S. João Evangelista and S. João Baptista.

67There are more pieces of the XVII and XVIII centuries, that prove the importance of these collections, namely a box and a set of sacred silver items, a chalice of gilded silver with a gothic inscription, a pair of silver cruets with crystal recipients, and even still, silver custodials, Portuguese wafer holders in gilded silver, radiant silver aureoles, chiseled silver candlesticks, crowns, small bells and thuribles.